Int. j. eng. sci., Vol(3), No (1), January, 2014. pp.

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International Journal of Engineering Sciences

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ISSN:
2306-6474
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Application of Geographic Information System in the Mapping of

Otamiri River Watershed in Owerri, Nigeria
Austine O. Nnaji
Department of Environmental Technology Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Sylvanus I. Iro
Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Evan Enwerem University, Owerri Nigeria

Samuel O. Onyekuru *
Department of Geosciences, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: Samuel.onyekuru@futo.edu.ng

Keywords

Abstract

Digital
Mapping
Otamiri River
Watershed
Management
Revitalization

The application of digital mapping in analyzing environmental problems has recently been extended to the
management of watersheds for sustainable development. In this study, Geographic Information System
(GIS) technique was applied in the mapping of the Otamiri River watershed in Owerri area, Nigeria. The
goal specifically was to produce dynamic digital maps which could be utilized in analyzing the
indiscriminate sand mining activities and the resultant degradation of the watershed and for town planning
against floods. The study employed field techniques using Global Positioning System (GPS) to establish
ground truths, while the topographic map of the area was scanned, digitized in AutoCAD environment, then
geo-referenced to obtain coordinates and heights. The resultant imagery was imported into Surfer 7 GIS
environment and processed to obtain three dynamic digital maps namely: general purpose map, map of the
drainage pattern and 3D map of the watershed. Application of these maps in a model could be utilized in
tracking pollutants introduced in watersheds, control flooding and reveal clearer flow patterns that can easily
be monitored for revitalization purposes.

1.

Introduction

Otamiri River is one of the major rivers in Owerri, the capital city of Imo State, Nigeria (Figure 1). Owerri lies between Longitudes 60 591 and 70
101E and Latitudes 50 251 and 50 451N, with a climate characteristic of a rainforest region. The mean annual rainfall ranges between 20002250mm, mean monthly temperature is 270C, while the relative humidity stands between 80-90% during the rainy season [1]. The topography is
fairly lowlands with comparatively few hilly undulations.
Two major river systems drain Owerri metropolis: Rivers Nworie and Otamiri. The Nworie River flows southeast covering an area of about 5km
along its course before emptying into the Otamiri River around Emmanuel College, Owerri. From thence, the Otamiri River flows southwards
towards Nekede, Ihiagwa and Umuagwo, before emptying into the River Niger, around the Imo-Rivers States Border. The Otamiri River is thus
an indispensable source of potable water for both industrial and domestic uses for Imo people. It not only provides alternative drinking water
supply but is also exploited for sand mining, fishing and other resource based activities [2].
Owerri has experienced immense population and industrial growth in the past three decades resulting in pressure on the existing water supply
systems. Indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources within the context of poor revitalization efforts puts the Otamiri watershed under
production stress resulting in its rapid deterioration. For instance, [3] observed that in the face of rapid urbanization and indiscriminate dumping
of wastes, there is widespread degradation of the watershed resulting in eutrophication of the river (Figure 2). Such environmental problems
require studies aimed at restoring and revitalizing the watershed. The problem however, is that most of these studies utilize outdated maps of the
areas under investigation, meaning that recent status of the watershed would not be captured. More so, river courses are not static but dynamic as
a result of channel switching observed in meandering systems like the Otamiri River. It is therefore of interest to produce a dynamic state-of-theart, Geo-referenced digital maps of Owerri area using integrated approaches of space imaging, in-situ data capture and geospatial database. Such
maps could then be utilized for remediation studies and town planning activities especially against flooding. Geographic Information System
(GIS) is the preferred technique for modeling watersheds because it will in addition to updating the current outdated topographic map of a
watershed, provide dynamism for future updates [4]. The GIS technique will most likely yield reliable results in determining land-use options
that will be suitable for the sustainable development and protection of the Otamiri River watershed. The GIS as a tool of analysis is varied and
numerous. The basic functionality of every GIS is to produce a digital map. The implementation structures embedded in its software
encapsulates its application domain, which is well-known knowledge base across several fields of study. Since GIS is a real world problem
solution oriented package, it is mostly founded and developed to handle both the simple and complex features of spatial, like in Otamiri River
watershed and aspatial data set acquisition, processing, analyses, visualization and storage. This entails employing computers in the production
of graphic and non graphic maps. This basic structure is contained in GIS software and is implemented through its graphic user interface, [5].
Building map objects in a map compilation session of any vector GIS project, creation of attribute table of the various objects that make up a
map set, symbol, finishing, and printing is considered a basic functionality of GIS [6].

Austine O. Nnaji, Sylvanus I. Iro, Samuel O. Onyekuru *

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (1), January, 2014.

2.

Materials and Methods

The materials used for this study include large scale maps (Sheets 175, 161, 162, and 189) of Owerri metropolis in a scale of 1:2500 produced in
1977 by the Survey Department, Ministry of lands and Survey, Imo State, Nigeria, street guide of Owerri metropolis published on a scale of
1:20,000 and produced by Imo State Survey Department in 1985, analog maps such as large scale topographic map covering some parts of
Owerri Capital Territory on a scale of 1:2500 were also obtained and utilized. The scale of 1:2500 is preferred because of the detailed nature of
the study. At the scale of 1:2500 Otamiri watershed and other details such as man-made and natural features that are being carried out on the
watershed like sedimentation, vegetation loss, refuse dumping, sand mining and agricultural activities are revealed. Additionally, Owerri
cadastral map produced in 1977 covering Owerri metropolis with layout sheets 175, 161, 162, and 189 were used. Administrative map of Imo
state comprising of the Local Government boundaries and all the communities that make up Imo state, produced by ministry of works division of
the survey in 1977 was also used. This is important because Otamiri watershed cuts across three local government areas in Imo State. Finally,
images especially, aerial photographs on the scale of 1:2500 of the study area were used. This is important for two reasons: (a) for the extraction
of heights and (b) for the recompilation if need be of some important man-made features that may help in the study. Likewise data relating to the
transformation of coordinates of geo-referenced points and other relevant positions along and around Otamiri River such as sand mining sites,
gully sites and dump sites etc were acquired from the field using the conventional hand held Germin GPS 76 and 72.
2.1. Data Processing
Available data were digitized by first scanning using a general image processing software such as Adobe Photoshop. The Image mosaicing of the
scanned maps was achieved since the scanning was in bits, wallowing overlap way between each successive scan. This overlap area, which must
have common details, was used to form a mosaic in AutoCAD software [7]. Finally the raster data was geo-referenced to the ground coordinate
system with which they were produced because of the better working environment of the ground system rather than the arbitrary system which
the machine provides. Another advantage in working with the ground system is that orientation of the map under production is always
maintained. The output is then digitized in AutoCAD Environment. This is because AutoCAD has enhanced features that aid digitization such as
objects snap, polar measurement, ortho and so on. Digitization in AutoCAD was done with object that is recognizable by host software Surfer 7,
where vector spatial analysis was done, since Surfer recognizes line, point, and poly line objects from AutoCAD. The first mosaiced map
digitized was the street guide of Owerri urban and annotated accordingly (Figure 3) with scale 1:20,000. The second digitized map was the large
scale topographical map of some parts of Owerri Urban on a scale of 1:2500, produced by a Geodetic survey Company for Imo state government
in 1977. Map features were digitized by using the appropriate symbology in terms of AutoCAD objects and properties for example, poly line,
and its properties will include line, color, line weight, line type.
Feature digitizing was done by selecting the object that will represent the features on the map such as line features that may include road
network, streets, rivers, contours, etc. For this project, roads and streets were digitized using polyline, and then contours were done in sufer
software using also linear features. Rivers also were digitized using a combination of polyline, spline object where appropriate. They were
symbolized by choosing the appropriate color components indicated in the map. Other point features observed in the field were symbolized
appropriately with AutoCAD symbols. The street guide map of Owerri metropolis was used as a base map in the study, while the Owerri
metropolis large scale maps of scale 1:2500 provided height information, consequently, height data was extracted from this same map. This is
done by digitizing the contour lines and spot heights.
2.2. Overlaying process
Overlaying process was done by merging the heights, the surface vector map and planemetric base map. This was done by saving each of the
surface vector map made in surfer environment in DXF format and opened in AutoCAD environment. The height vector map saved in DXF and
opened in AutoCAD was resaved in AutoCAD format (DWG), since DXF format is recognized by AutoCAD, the coordinates of the bounded
areas would also be moved to AutoCAD. This means that the second georeferencing in AutoCAD is unnecessary. However, Sufer software does
not have an enhanced georeferencing module, a second georeferencing was necessary and was done to align and overlay the two surface
Altrimetric and Planemetric vector maps.
2.3. Geo-location of important features on the map
After the above process, a topographic map was then produced, covering the area of study. Several features that were not on the original street
base map were geolocated on the map. This was done by getting their coordinates from the field using the GPS.

3.

Results

The study yielded three maps which include:

(1) General purpose map.-Showing some important layouts and features (Figure 3)
(2) Drainage pattern - showing drainage pattern of the study area (Figure 4)
(3) D map of the study area- which shows the valleys of Nworie and Otamiri Rivers (Figure 5).
The resultant maps were applied in assessing environmental problems associated with the water shed. Firstly, Figure 4 which shows the drainage
pattern of Otamiri River clearly reveals holistically the morphology of the watershed and the direction of water flow. It can conveniently be
used to plan against flooding in the study area. It means that pollutants can easily be tracked along the flow line for remediation purpose.
Secondly, the structure of the wireframe map (Figure 3) shows indiscriminate degradation of the watershed itself due to human interference. For
instance, the open areas of the wireframe map reveals at the mildest, erosional activity and at the very worst sand mining activities. This implies
that land use practices such as unguided sand mining should be discouraged as it will aggravate the rate of bank erosion. Bank erosion could also
be attributed to the load in the river and as such there is an urgent need for the dredging of the river to increase the flow rate especially in the
middle and lower courses. Thirdly, Figure 5 that shows the 3D map of the area reveals the topographic structures that determine direction of

Application of Geographic Information System in the Mapping of Otamiri River Watershed in Owerri, Nigeria
International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (1), January, 2014.

flow of the river system from its original course. It has also revealed that people living at the downstream sections (around Ihiagwa and
Umuagwo areas), where meandering is sluggish due to reduced gradient are more vulnerable to flooding. The map should therefore be used for
education and public enlightenment to avoid flood hazard.
In all, the application of the three digital maps in analyzing various environmental problems associated with the Otamiri river water shed cannot
be over emphasized more so as the maps digital model platform will allow for their dynamic update as the water shed changes.

4.

Conclusion

The study has produced digital maps of Otamiri River watershed with improved resolution than the analog maps previously in use, thus
highlighting a better understanding of the watershed. Consequently researchers, Environmentalists, meteorologist and policy makers likely to
become involved with the management of the Otamiri River watershed are now equipped with updated maps of the area for planning and
revitalization purposes.
Finally, as the main supply of public water for Owerri, the capital of Imo State, Nigeria, it is recommended that the quality of the Otamiri River
water be continuously monitored for harmful pollutants that could endanger human health. The digital maps will provide the necessary platform.

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Figure 1. Map of Nigeria showing Imo State

Figure 2. Showing eutrophication on Otamiri River.

Austine O. Nnaji, Sylvanus I. Iro, Samuel O. Onyekuru *

International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (1), January, 2014.

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THIS MAP WAS PRODUCED BY IRO SYLVANUS I. (,2009)

AL PURPOSE MAP OF OTAMIRI WATERSHED)

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Figure 3. General purpose Map of Otamiri watershed

Application of Geographic Information System in the Mapping of Otamiri River Watershed in Owerri, Nigeria
International Journal of Engineering Sciences Vol(3), No (1), January, 2014.

FIG.(III) (DRAINAGE PARTERN OF OTAMIRI WATERSHED)

Figure 4. Drainage pattern of Otamiri Watershed

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Figure 5. 3D map of Otamiri River

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